About PARVOVIRUS

Following is a copy of a letter I just sent via e-mail to Governor Perdue regarding the practice of quarantining or euthanizing entire shelter populations which has been required by the Department of Agriculture for the purpose of containing parvo under the misguided belief that the virus is airborn. Anyone wishing to help me stop the needless killing of healthy adult dogs in shelters across this state, is encouraged to write as many letters to the Governor as necessary in order to put an end to this rediculous practice. Gwinnett has been shut down again, and there is no telling how many animals will have to die over this. If you do choose to join me in my fight, please e-mail me and let me know off list at littlegoomba@bellsouth.net I will also be contacting the Humane Society of the United States for help regarding this issue. Thanks, Erika Dillingham 770-513-2987 Dear Governor Perdue, I am writing to you as a concerned citizen of the state of Georgia, to tell you about a severe injustice that I feel is being dolled out on the animals and the animal control officers of this state. Dr. Black, the state veterinarian, has declared that parvo virus is an airborn illness. This declaration has lead to the destruction of countless numbers of healthy, adult animals in the care of animal control facilities all across the atlanta area and in other parts of the state. The Department of Agriculture continues in the practice of closing entire shelters over isolated cases of this disease, and then requiring animal control facilities to either quarantine entire shelter populations for 14 days, or euthanize these animals. In the case of Gwinnett County alone, the cost of quarantining 150 animals for 14 days with the average cost of boarding being 15 dollars per day, would cost the county $31,500.00 not including the cost of vaccines which are always required by veterinarians before animals enter for boarding. This is not the practice that is widely held in other states across this country. The fact is, that parvo is NOT an airborn illness. The two main modes of transmission are fecal to oral, and by mothers to puppies in utero. Dr. Black has declared that parvo may be sprayed up into an aerosol when a hose is used to clean cages of infected animals. Even if this were true, that aerosol would not travel the entire length and depth of an animal control facility. It is the widely held practice of animal control facilities in other states, to remove animals that are within a few cages of infected animals, and to either euthanize, or quarantine those that are in close proximity to the one that was sick. Requiring animal control facilities, such as Gwinnett, and others whose capacity for holding is somewhere around 150+ dogs, to quarantine their entire population, or euthanize the entire population, is absurd and frankly inhumane. Not only would this cost an inordinant amount of taxpayer dollars, but it is completely unnecessary, and is honestly taking a toll on the morale of the county employees who are forced to euthanize all of these disease free, adult animals, who's chances of contracting the disease are minimal. Parvo is a disease primarily of young puppies and unvaccinated young adult dogs. It lives in the environment for some estimates, several years, and can be spread for example when animals lick grass that has virus shed on it by another dog, or on the shoes of people who walk through a contaminated area. It is resistant to most cleaning agents, although bleach seems to be effective in eradicating contaminated areas of the disease. The mode of transmission is primarily fecal to oral, which means if a dog walks through grass contaminated with the virus and then licks his paws, he may contract the disease. Please would you consider researching this issue, and putting an end to this absurd practice of quarantining or euthanizing entire shelter populations. This disease is a disease primarily of warmer months, and though there ARE ways to contain the spreading of it, ie., by practicing proper sanitation techniques in shelters and other facilities that house dogs, it can NEVER be expected that in an environment where there is a constant influx of strays and unvaccinated owner-turn ins, that parvo, on some level won't be an almost constant presence at this time of year. The practice of euthanizing or quarantining entire populations is nothing more than a power play in my opinion, and it is honestly doing nothing to control the spread of this disease. The only way to control the spread of parvo, is to educate people on the need for early vaccinations and to promote healthier ways of living for animals in general. Please protect Georgia's county employees by sending a message to Dr. Black, Mary Greene, and the department of Agriculture, that what they are requiring of shelters and other agencies under their jurisdiction, is misguided at best and that the practice of quarantining or euthanizing animals only in close proximity to those infected, is the widely accepted practice of animal control facilities across the country. Sincerely, Erika Dillingham Concerned Citizen of the State of Georgia 2000 Springer Walk Lawrenceville, GA 30043 770-513-2987